The Lounge

[Singapore Don]

Well that was a long, long trek to Sunderland – and thank goodness I had a match ticket and got there early so didn’t experience any of the awful turnstile delays that prevented hundreds of Dons from missing the first half an hour of the game. I’m so glad I didn’t miss that first half an hour, because that was when we created our best chances and were at our best all round, although the positive performance did hold up for the full ninety minutes.

Barring of course one fatal defensive slip which gifted Sunderland their one bit of Black Cat luck – and of course it was Tennai Watson, yet again, who was at fault. A schoolboy error, a momentary lack of concentration, and the fatal blow was struck. Tellingly, Watson was subbed off within a few minutes to be replaced by Toby Sibbick, who played the last 20 minutes of the game with calm assurance.

Surely that is the last we’ll see of Watson? He is an utter liability, constantly drifting to the centre of defence leaving a gaping hole in the right back position for opposition left wingers to exploit. Time and time again we’ve seen it, and time and time again we’ve been punished for it. Watson alone must be responsible for more points dropped than any other individual player. I don’t like doing this and singling out a player for this type of criticism, but yesterday’s error was so predictable from a player who is just not a right back and has no defensive brain. I’ve lost count of the number of games where he’s been individually at fault for giving the ball away or not being in the right position, which has resulted in goals being scored against us and games lost. Enough is enough. (Interestingly, not a single Dons player went up to Watson to console him after his terrible gaff as one might expect them to do with a young player. I think their frustration at the waste of all their effort for such a schoolboy error was telling and no one was in the mood to give him any benefit of the doubt – because there is and was no doubt over his ineptitude!).

Sibbick himself is not the finished product at all, and does look lightweight at times, but yesterday he held his own. And surely he was owed a starting place after his West Ham performance and goal? With relegation all but certain now, Sibbick has to start so at least it is one of our own players who will be learning from any mistakes rather than a loanee who will take the lessons learned back to his parent club. I don’t want to see Watson starting a game again.

As for the rest of the team and game? All positive. yes, a defeat, but you would not have known this was a top versus bottom team game. Once again Wagstaff and Wordsworth were masterly in midfield: tough, aggressive, dynamic and creative. Exactly what we’ve been missing for most of the season when the wardrobes ruled supreme in those positions. Pointedly neither Trotter or Soares was on the bench. A shame they didn’t go in the transfer window to save us some cash, but it’s hard to see them in a Dons shirt again now we have our fantastic duo at the heart of the Dons machine, and with Hartigan and new boy McLauglin waiting in the wings.

Both Wagstaff and Wordsworth not only bossed the midfield, but excitingly they also looked to have a go on goal when given a chance. Wordsworth had a shot from 25 yards which narrowly missed in the first few minutes, a great effort, followed by an audacious lob of the keeper from about 45 yards which the keeper only just managed to scramble back to claw past the post. Both were fantastic efforts. And Wagstaff had a bursting run through on goal in the dying moments of the game, brilliantly positive and aggressive, which unfortunately didn’t result in a goal…according to Scott because he was held back (difficult to see for us there being at the other end of the ground).

Other positives: Will Nightingale looks a natural fit as the holding midfielder sitting in front of the back four. He was energetic, tight pressing, full of verve and aggression – superb. He broke up Sunderland’s play in midfield on numerous occasions, and created opportunities for Wagstaff and Wordsworth to press forward – a delight to see. Thomas in central defence was a tower of strength next to Oshilaja; barely anything got past him, time and time again winning the ball and clearing creatively. Seddon at left back had a solid game too, while Appiah up front was full of movement and excellent in holding up the ball and winning headers. Young Connolly’s lightning pace was a joy to watch again, he has the ability to really terrorise defences and get a good ball in to the box. We missed him when he went off, clearly with some sort of injury. His replacement was in comparison woeful. Jake Jervis just kept preening himself, always adjusting his shorts as he does, and failing to do anything positive at all. And these are words from his shirt sponsor!!

All round, it was disappointing not to get anything from the game, but having resigned myself to relegation, I wasn’t that downbeat and actually made the long journey home rather happy to have seen an old style fighting performance from the Dons – a team really up for the challenge. It was a positive display for the whole ninety minutes. If we can keep hold of Wagstaff and Wordsworth for next season, I’d say the future looks bright in League Two….

[Windlesham Don]

Hi Liam,
I hope you do come over in April. We may be holding a wake for our League 1 existence, but it would be good to catch up with a beer! I hope the apartment is still on track, I haven’t seen Dave for a while.

[Windlesham Don]

What is the next watering hole after the last chance saloon, cos that’s where we’ve probably moved on to now!

Three points and a convincing display are an absolute ‘must’ this afternoon if we are to cling on to the thread of survival.

We need to be out of the blocks quickly and be in the faces of a side with little to play for. The players need to show that they are up for the relegation fight and not solely interested in the potential bumper players’ pool on offer on Saturday.

Win today, win on Tuesday and we may just gain some momentum that will some sides above us getting nervous…

I’ll plump for a nervy 2-1 victory to keep the hope alive for a few more days…

COYD!!

[MacWomble]

Yikes! Time to consult the Google maps for all of these lovely League 2 locations for next year. Places like Milton Keynes. No point even thinking otherwise. If the latest wally in charge of the club is to have a hope of rescuing next season, then now is the time to start giving up on this season. Mind you, will our Wally be there next season. How can we beat West Ham and then fail to inspire thereafter? The fan reports point to bad luck and schoolboy errors. This has been the story for a few years now – that and lack of commitment. COYD.

[onyadon]

Any true believers fastening on to the lifebuoy before, will have let it go now. As that notable Physio once said… the game is up. https://t.co/g72WvYVgqD

— wombles downunder (@WDownunder) February 9, 2019

Think we’re cooked. The latest loss – the 10th at home this season – leaves the Dons stranded nine points from the second-bottom team and 10 from the relegation zone. Wimbledon have lost five of their last six (the other drawn) as teams around them eke out points. It was the manner of the latest defeat to Burton Albion (at home) after the similar shambles in the previous home game against Fleetwood Town in the league that signalled to me that the white flag has been raised. Wally Downes complained about a lack of fight from his team – where have we heard that before? (And I am not even remotely saying there should be a change of managers). Relegation is looming, the players don’t appear to have the fight for it (but keen on chasing bonuses in the FA Cup), so I think we should be preparing ourselves for life next season in League 2. Nothing terminal about that. It gives Wally and Glyn the chance to finally cleanse the squad of the driftwood/bad signings and loans and rebuild a team hopefully that will fight for points, score some goals and put some pride back into the Wimbledon shirt. It has been a dispiriting season – FA Cup run notwithstanding – and for me, the damage was done prior to the new management team coming in. The current form – or lack of it – is simply not enough to keep the Dons up this season.

[Colum]

Only 4003 there on Saturday including 220 odd from Burton. And there were plenty around me saying this could be the last time they come this season. Whether you say they are fair weather fans or not, attendances aren’t looking too good.

The worst thing of all is that you can’t blame them. Going down with some fight is OK, but on Saturday there was little of that. Roll on the FA Cup for some chance of rescuing our season and making the final eight. But Millwall are no West Ham. I sense more disappointment looming.

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